By Tunde Adebisi
Pastor Henry Abayomi Odeneye, a distinguished minister, evangelist, philanthropist, church planter and prayer revivalist, has passed on at the age of 73.
The Executive Council member of The Apostolic Church LAWNA, USA, died in Houston, Texas, on August 8, 2026, following a brief illness.
He was the South Kirkwood District Apostle of LAWNA USA, the missionary outreach of the Nigeria based denomination. His death has brought to a close a remarkable chapter in the life of a man whose ministry transcended geographical boundaries and whose passion for the gospel, Yoruba language and Christian fellowship touched lives across continents.
His obsequies will be held in both Nigeria and the United States. According to a statement by the Pastor Henry Odeneye Legacy Group, a Commendation Service of Songs is scheduled to hold in Lagos on September 2, ahead of the wake-keep, outing and Thanksgiving Service scheduled for Houston, Texas, on September 3 and 4 respectively.
Until his death, Pastor Odeneye was President of Harvest Point Ministries and the Yoruba Christian Fellowship, popularly known as Dagunduro Prayer Family. Through these platforms, he built a far-reaching ministry that impacted churches, ministers and individuals around the world.
A Voice for the Gospel and Yoruba Heritage
Pastor Odeneye’s ministry was distinguished by an unusual combination of evangelism, cultural advocacy and prayer revival. Following his migration from Nigeria to the United States, he pioneered the preaching of the gospel in Yoruba in ways that gave the language a new visibility within the American Christian landscape.
What began as an expression of faith and cultural identity grew into an international movement. Under his leadership, Harvest Point Ministries established branches and centres in several countries, including Tanzania, Uganda, Senegal, Benin Republic, Togo and Nigeria, with additional centres in Brazil and Mexico.
One of his notable contributions was the establishment of theological instruction in African languages. He was particularly proud of the development of theological education conducted in languages such as Swahili, Ewe and Yoruba, describing the initiative as a significant development in the history of Christian ministry on the continent.
His advocacy for Yoruba culture also earned recognition beyond the church. He was honoured with a Presidential Gold Medal for community service and cultural integration. His ministry’s work promoting Yoruba language and Christianity also attracted congressional recognition in the United States in October 2022.
In Houston, his cultural advocacy produced another landmark achievement. December 6 was set aside as Dagunduro Yoruba Day, recognising the contribution of the Yoruba Christian Fellowship to the promotion of Yoruba culture and community life. The initiative received recognition from the Mayor of Houston.
Faith Without Boundaries
Pastor Odeneye’s vision extended beyond preaching from the pulpit. Through the Dagunduro Yoruba Christian Fellowship, his ministry also helped Yoruba-speaking immigrants prepare for American citizenship civic tests. The 100 civic questions were translated into Yoruba, a development he regarded as a significant affirmation of the language and its place within the multicultural fabric of American society.
His ministry also took pilgrims to the Holy Land. Jerusalem Pilgrimage began in 2019, with a second journey successfully undertaken in August 2022. His contribution to tourism and relations with Israel earned him an award as a Friend of Israel and Ambassador of Israel for Tourism from Israel’s Ministry of Trade and Tourism.
‘I Came in the Volume of What Is Written of Me’
Perhaps the clearest window into Pastor Odeneye’s philosophy of ministry can be found in his own words. “I entered into the ministry a wealthy man, a multimillionaire. I have never regretted coming into the ministry.”
For him, ministry was not a retreat from achievement but a response to a higher calling. He believed that God could use human limitations to accomplish divine purposes.
He often recalled that he was neither fluent nor proficient in Yoruba when he was called to organise Yoruba-language programmes in America. Yet, what might have been considered a weakness in Nigeria became an advantage in the United States, where the language gave his ministry a distinctive identity.
“If it were Nigeria, my country of origin, it would not be unique,” he reflected, noting that there were many others who could speak Yoruba more fluently. But in America, he found, Yoruba became a bridge between faith, heritage and identity.
It was a philosophy that defined much of his work: turning perceived limitations into instruments of purpose.
A Man With a Script
Pastor Odeneye saw life and ministry as a divinely written drama in which every person has a role to play. He believed he had been entrusted with a script and was determined to remain faithful to it until the end.
“Here am I, still in the process. I have not stopped, and I will do everything to ensure that I do according to the volume of the book by which I came,” he once said.
He described the earth as a stage on which actors perform according to a script, adding that as long as he remained alive, he would adhere to the script handed to him by God Almighty.
His sudden departure may have brought his earthly performance to an end, but the script he followed continues to unfold through the people he inspired, the churches and ministry centres he established, the pilgrims he led, the culture he championed and the countless lives touched by his prayer ministry.
Pastor Henry Abayomi Odeneye leaves behind more than memories. He leaves a legacy of faith expressed boldly across cultures, a testimony to the power of prayer, and an enduring example of a life committed to purpose.
For a man who lived by the conviction that he had come “in the volume of what is written,” his life was, in many ways, a testimony to the fulfilment of that divine script.
He is survived by his wife, Clara, his three children, and the many fellow yoke bearers who shared in the journey of his ministry.
As associates, friends, sympathizers, and people of goodwill mourn the passing of this influential apostle of Christ, his labour in the ministry and the many souls impacted, transformed, and won to the Kingdom of God will remain indelibly engraved in the sands of time and in the hearts of generations to come.
Indeed, as Scripture declares, “their works do follow them.” His legacy of faith, service, and devotion to the Kingdom will continue to speak long after his earthly journey has ended.
And now, the preacher has completed his part.
Pastor Tunde Adebisi, the Communication Director/Nigeria representative of Harvest Point Ministries writes from Ketu Lagos.